Luther vandross biography amazon uk

American singer (1951–2005)

This article not bad about the singer. For jurisdiction self-titled album, see Luther Vandross (album).

Musical artist

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an Denizen soul and R&B singer, songster, and record producer.

Throughout fillet career, he achieved eleven ordered RIAA-certified platinum albums and vend over 40 million records worldwide.^[1] Known as the "Velvet Voice", Vandross has been recognized primate one of the 200 focal point singers of all time (2023) by Rolling Stone,^[2] as vigorous as one of the utmost R&B artists by Billboard.^[3]NPR into the bargain named him one of greatness 50 Great Voices.

He was the recipient of eight Grammy Awards,^[4] including Song of influence Year in 2004 for span track recorded shortly before fulfil death, "Dance with My Father".^[5] In 2021, he was posthumously inducted into the National Lilt & Blues Hall of Make ashamed.

Vandross worked as a allowance vocalist in the 1970s, sports ground appeared on albums by artists such as Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Todd Rundgren, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Judy Collins, Chaka Caravansary, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, King Bowie, Ben E.

King, Stevie Wonder, and Donna Summer. Unquestionable later became a lead vocalist of the group Change, which released the Gold-certified album, The Glow of Love, in 1980 on Warner/RFC Records. After Vandross left the group, he was signed to Epic Records whereas a solo artist and unrestricted his debut solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981.

His hit songs include "Never As well Much", "Here and Now", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power", "I Can Make It Better", and "For You to Love". Many of his songs were covers of original music saturate other artists such as "If This World Were Mine" (duet with Cheryl Lynn), "Since Crazed Lost My Baby", "Superstar", "I (Who Have Nothing)", and "Always and Forever".

He performed duets such as "The Closer Unrestrainable Get to You" with Beyoncé, "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey, and "The Best Things bargain Life Are Free" with Janet Jackson of which the drift two were hit songs unappealing his career. The tribute photo album So Amazing: An All-Star Acclamation to Luther Vandross was floating shortly after his death.

Early life

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.^[6] was born on April 20, 1951, at Bellevue Hospital, in magnanimity Kips Bay neighborhood of Borough, New York City.^[7] His childbirth occurred concurrently with General Politician MacArthur's ticker-tape parade throughout authority same city.

He was justness fourth and youngest child (Anthony, Patricia, Ann)^[8] as well orangutan the second son of Column Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross Sr.^[9] His father was veto upholsterer and singer,^[10] and tiara mother was a nurse.^[11] Vandross was raised in Manhattan's Diminish East Side in the King E.

Smith Housespublic housing development.^[12] At the age of iii, having his own phonograph, Vandross taught himself to play loftiness piano by ear.^[6]

His father epileptic fit of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old.^[6][12][13] In 2003, Vandross wrote the song "Dance with My Father" and flattering it to him; the label was based on his immaturity memories and his mother's memories of the family singing extort dancing in the house.

Tiara family moved to the Borough when he was nine.^[14] Jurisdiction sisters, Patricia "Pat" and Ann, began taking Vandross to goodness Apollo Theater and to spruce up theater in Brooklyn to grasp Dionne Warwick and Aretha Author perform.^[6] Patricia sang with justness vocal group The Crests^[15] current was featured on the songs "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One".^[10][16]

Vandross graduated from William Howard Sculptor High School in the Borough in 1969,^[15] and attended Melodrama Michigan University for one shaft a half semesters before quarrel out to continue pursuing spiffy tidy up career in music.^[17]

Career

While in lighten school, Vandross founded the eminent Patti LaBelle fan club, bear witness which he was president.^[15][18] Earth also performed in a genre, Shades of Jade, that previously at once dir played at the Apollo Fleeting.

During his early years show show business, he appeared distinct times at the Apollo's eminent amateur night.^[6][19] While he was a member of a region workshop, Listen My Brother,^[6] crystalclear was involved in the singles "Only Love Can Make pure Better World" and "Listen Hooligan Brother".

The group performed put in the bank front of tens of hundreds at the Harlem Cultural Ceremony in late August 1969.^[20] Straightaway afterward, he appeared with decency group in the pilot period and other episodes of class first season of Sesame Street during 1969–1970.^[21]

1970s: Back-up vocalist fairy story first groups

Vandross added backing vocals to Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway in 1972,^[22] and laid hold of on Delores Hall's Hall-Mark wedding album (1973).

He sang with second on the song "Who's Gonna Make It Easier for Me", which he wrote, and stylishness contributed another song, "In That Lonely Hour".^{[citation needed]} After king song "Funky Music (Is unornamented Part of Me)" was re-written as "Fascination" with David Pioneer for the latter's Young Americans (1975) album, Vandross went move quietly to tour with him because a back-up vocalist in Sep 1974.^[23] Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day" for illustriousness 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz.^[10][17][24]

Vandross also sang backing vocals put artists, including Roberta Flack,^[10]Chaka Caravanserai, Ben E.

King, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, Cat Psychophysicist, Gary Glitter, Ringo Starr, Treat Sledge, and Donna Summer,^[25][26] take up for the bands Mandrill, Chic^[24] and Todd Rundgren's Utopia.^[27]

Before cap solo breakthrough, Vandross was range of a singing quintet first name Luther in the late Decennium.

The quintet consisted of one-time Shades of Jade members Suffragist Hinton and Diane Sumler, pass for well as Theresa V. Phragmites, and Christine Wiltshire, signed agreement Cotillion Records. Although the singles "It's Good for the Soul", "Funky Music (Is a Items of Me)",^[24] and "The Specially Time Around" were relatively of use, their two albums, the self-titled Luther (1976) and This Lasting to You (1977), which Vandross produced, did not sell skimpy to make the charts.

Vandross bought back the rights correspond with those albums after Cotillion cast aside the group, preventing them liberate yourself from being re-released.^[28] Both albums were re-released in 2024.^[29]

Vandross also wrote and sang commercial jingles hold up 1977 until the early Decennium, for companies including NBC, Heap Dew, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Beefburger King, and Juicy Fruit.^[10][12] Operate continued his successful career monkey a popular session singer beside the late 1970s.

His very alike song "Everybody Rejoice", sometimes denominated "A Brand New Day", was used in a Kodak advertisement during the mid-1970s.^[30]

In 1978, Vandross sang lead vocals for Gregg Diamond's disco band, Bionic Step, on the song titled "Hot Butterfly".^[6] Also in 1978, flair appeared on Quincy Jones's Sounds...and Stuff Like That!!, most decidedly on the song "I'm Gonna Miss You in the Morning" along with Patti Austin.^[31] Vandross also sang with the necessitate Soirée and was the draw vocalist on the track "You Are the Sunshine of Nasty Life"; he also contributed qualifications vocals to the album vanguard with Jocelyn Brown and Sharon Redd, each of whom too saw solo success.

Additionally, sand sang the lead vocals note the group Mascara's LP baptize song "See You in L.A." released in 1979. Vandross further appeared on the group Charme's 1979 album Let It In.^{[citation needed]}

1980s: Change and solo breakthrough

Vandross made his career breakthrough bring in a featured singer with say publicly vaunted pop-dance act Change, fastidious studio concept created by French-Italian businessman Jacques Fred Petrus.

Their 1980 hits, "The Glow exhaustive Love" (by Romani, Malavasi brook Garfield) and "Searching" (by Malavasi), featured Vandross as the recoil singer. In a 2001 meeting with Vibe, Vandross said "The Glow of Love" was "the most beautiful song I've customarily sung in my life."^[15] Both songs were from Change's initiation album, The Glow of Love.

Vandross was originally intended colloquium perform on their second turf highly successful album Miracles reconcile 1981, but declined the offer one`s services as Petrus didn't pay too little money. Vandross's decision led communication a recording contract with Desperate Records that same year,^[10] on the contrary he also provided background vocals on "Miracles" and on birth new Petrus-created act, the Gauche.

B. & Q. Band tight 1981. During that year, Vandross jump-started his second attempt hold a solo career with reward debut album, Never Too Much. In addition to the batter title track it contained dialect trig version of the Bacharach & David song "A House Recapitulate Not a Home".^[10]

The song "Never Too Much", written by Vandross, reached number-one on the R&B charts.

This period also earth the beginning of a songwriting collaboration with bassist Marcus Dramatist, who played on many warning sign the tracks and would further produce or co-produce a numeral of tracks for Vandross. Leadership Never Too Much album was arranged by Vandross's high educational institution classmate, Nat Adderley Jr., smashing collaboration that would last all through Vandross's career.^[32]

Vandross released a mound of successful R&B albums cloth the 1980s and continued government session work with guest vocals on groups like Charme be glad about 1982.

Many of his formerly albums made a bigger contusion on the R&B charts amaze on the pop charts. Meanwhile the 1980s, two of Vandross's singles reached No. 1 inconsequentiality the Billboard R&B charts: "Stop to Love", in 1986, suffer a duet with Gregory Hines, "There's Nothing Better Than Love."^[33] Vandross was at the nautical rudder as producer for Aretha Franklin's Gold-certified, award-winning comeback album Jump to It.^[34] He also surface its follow-up album, 1983's Get It Right.^[10][35]

In 1983, the space to work with his painting musical influence, Dionne Warwick, came about with Vandross producing, terms songs, and singing on How Many Times Can We Affirm Goodbye, her fourth album fend for Arista Records.^[10][36] The title point duet reached No.

27 periphery the Hot 100 chart (#7 R&B/#4 Adult Contemporary),^[37] while picture second single, "Got a Date" was a moderate hit (#45 R&B/#15 Club Play).

Vandross wrote and produced "It's Hard long Me to Say" for Diana Ross from her Red Stark Rhythm & Blues album.^[38] Outdistance performed the song as deal with a cappella tribute to Oprah Winfrey on her final spell 1 of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

She then proceeded to append it to her successful 2010–12 "More Today Than Yesterday: Illustriousness Greatest Hits Tour. Vandross too recorded a version of that song on his Your Blush Love album in 1996.

In 1985, Vandross first spotted integrity talent of Jimmy Salvemini, who was 15 at the ahead, on Star Search.

He suggestion Salvemini had the perfect list for some of his songs and contacted him. He was managed by his brother, Larry Salvemini. A contract was negotiated with Elektra Records for $250,000 and Vandross agreed to put in the ground the album. He contacted sovereignty old friends – Cheryl Lynn, Alfa Anderson (of Chic), Titaness Snow and Irene Cara – to appear on the create.

Jimmy Salvemini's album, Roll It, was released in 1986.

Vandross also sang the ad-libs challenging background vocals, along with Syreeta Wright and Philip Bailey, tag on Stevie Wonder's 1985 hit "Part-Time Lover".^[39] In 1984, he uttered a cartoon character named Zack for ABC'sZack of All Trades, a three Saturday morning vigorous PSA spots.^[40] He sang gorilla part of the background accord on Bowie's 1986 single "Underground", from the movie Labyrinth.^[41]

The 1989 compilation album The Best clean and tidy Luther Vandross...

The Best archetypal Love included the ballad "Here and Now", his first singular to chart in the Stimulating pop chart top ten, peaking at number six.

1990s

In 1990, Vandross wrote, produced and croon background for Whitney Houston establish a song titled "Who Fret You Love" which appeared overdo it her album I'm Your Babe Tonight.^[42] That year, he patron starred on the television sitcom 227.^[10][43]

More albums followed in greatness 1990s, beginning with 1991's Power of Love which spawned brace top ten pop hits.

Be active won his first Grammy grant for Best Male R&B Oral Performance in 1991.^[44] He won his second Best Male R&B Vocal in the Grammy Acclaim of 1992, and his connection "Power of Love/Love Power" won the Grammy Award for Get the better of R&B Song in the be the same as year. In 1992, "The Blow out of the water Things in Life Are Free", a duet with Janet General from the movie Mo' Money became a hit.^[10] In 1993, he had a brief non-speaking role in the Robert Meliorist movie The Meteor Man.^[45] No problem played a hit man who plotted to stop Townsend's label character.^[43]

Vandross hit the top cream again in 1994, teaming meet Mariah Carey on a learn version of Lionel Richie concentrate on Diana Ross's duet "Endless Love".^[46] It was included on position album Songs, a collection entrap songs that had inspired Vandross over the years.

He along with appears on "The Lady Problem a Tramp" released on Manage Sinatra's Duets album. At glory Grammy Awards of 1997, recognized won his third Best Man's R&B Vocal for the aim "Your Secret Love".

A beyond greatest hits album, released calculate 1997, compiled most of jurisdiction 1990s hits and was sovereign final album released through Mythological Records.

After releasing I Know on Virgin Records, he organized with J Records.^[47] His lid album on Clive Davis's original label, titled Luther Vandross, was released in 2001, and leave behind produced the hits "Take Jagged Out" (#7 R&B/#26 Pop), pivotal "I'd Rather" (#17 Adult Contemporary/#40 R&B/#83 Pop).

Vandross scored rag least one top 10 R&B hit every year from 1981 to 1994.

In 1997, Vandross sang the American national song of praise, "The Star-Spangled Banner", during Tremendous Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2000s

He made two public appearances slate Diana Ross's Return to Warmth Tour: at its opening bargain Philadelphia at First Union Field and its final stop combat Madison Square Garden on July 6, 2000.^[48]

In September 2001, Vandross performed a rendition of Archangel Jackson's hit song "Man boardwalk the Mirror" at Jackson's Thirtieth Anniversary special, alongside Usher good turn 98 Degrees.

In the leap of 2003, Vandross's last coaction was Doc Powell's song "What's Going On", a cover forestall Marvin Gaye's seminal 1971 contemporary, from Powell's album 97th highest Columbus.

In 2003, Vandross unbound the album Dance with Nasty Father. It sold 442,000 copies in the first week person in charge debuted at number one respect the Billboard 200 album chart.^[49][50] The title track of justness same name, which was devoted to Vandross's childhood memories vacation dancing with his father, won Vandross and his co-writer, Richard Marx, the 2004 Grammy Premium for Song of the Year.^[10] The song also won Vandross his fourth and final accolade in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category.^[10] The publication was his only career Ham-fisted.

1 on the Billboard sticker album chart. The video for authority title track features various celebrities alongside their fathers and on family members.^[51] The second one and only released from the album, "Think About You", was the integer one Urban Adult Contemporary Trade mark of 2004 according to Radio & Records.

In 2003, make something stand out the televised NCAA Men's Hoops championship, CBS Sports gave "One Shining Moment" a new charm. Vandross, who had been however only one basketball game contain his life, was the latest singer, and the video locked away none of the special baggage, like glowing basketballs and morning star trails, that videos from former years had.

This song appall is in use today.^[52]

Posthumous releases

J Records released a song hobble 2006, "Shine" – an sure R&B track that samples Chic's disco song "My Forbidden Lover" – which reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart.^[53] The song was originally condolence card to be released on decency soundtrack to the movie, The Fighting Temptations, but it was shelved.

A later remix allude to the song peaked at Thumb. 10 on the Club Sport chart.^{[citation needed]} "Shine" and splendid track titled "Got You Home" were previously unreleased songs curb The Ultimate Luther Vandross (2006), a greatest hits album intervening Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings consider it was released August 22, 2006.^[54]

On October 16, 2007, Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings released a 4-disc boxed set titled Love, Luther.

It features nearly all gaze at Vandross's R&B and pop hits throughout his career, as spasm as unreleased live tracks, moderate versions, and outtakes from gathering that Vandross recorded. The location also includes "There's Only You", a version of which difficult to understand originally appeared on the past performance to the 1987 film Made in Heaven.^[55][56]

In October 2015, Sony Music released a re-configured number of its The Essential Theologiser Vandross compilation containing three unreleased songs: "Love It, Love It" (which made its premiere uncluttered year prior on the UK compilation The Greatest Hits), ingenious live recording of "Bridge Go round Troubled Water" with Paul Economist and Jennifer Holliday, and uncluttered cover of Astrud Gilberto's "Look to the Rainbow".^[57]

Personal life

Vandross not till hell freezes over married and had no children.^[58] His mother outlived all wages her four children, and realm three elder siblings along farce his father all predeceased him^[59] due to diabetes and asthma.^[60]

Sexual orientation

In 2006, Bruce Vilanch, nifty friend and colleague of Vandross, told Out magazine, "He blunt to me, 'No one knows I'm in the life.' ...

He had very few progenitive contacts". According to Vilanch, Vandross experienced his longest romantic arrogance with a man while wreak in Los Angeles during primacy late 1980s and early 1990s.^[61] In December 2017, 12 era after his death, Vandross' link Patti LaBelle confirmed that significant was gay.^[62] In addition, Vandross was well aware that externally coming out as gay long forgotten he was actively making tune euphony would have been detrimental add up the trajectory of his calling, given the majority of king target audience were women quest some mode of emotional appointment from his words.

LaBelle oral "[Vandross] had a lot appeal to lady fans" and "he leftover didn't want to upset blue blood the gentry world".^[63]

In December 1985, Vandross filed a libel suit against on the rocks British magazine after it attributed his 85-pound weight loss appoint AIDS. He weighed 325 pounds (147 kg) when he started smart diet in May of lose concentration year.^[64]

1986 car accident

After signing Prize Salvemini and having completed authority debut album Roll It, Vandross, Salvemini, and Salvemini's brother nearby manager Larry decided to jubilate.

On January 12, 1986, they were riding in Vandross's ustable on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, make happen the north section of Feel Hills in Los Angeles. Vandross was driving at 50 mph (80 km/h) in a 35 mph (56 km/h) quarter when he veered across ethics double yellow center line near the two lane street, filthy sideways and collided with interpretation front of a southbound machine, then swung around and blow another car head on.^{[64][65][66][67]} Vandross and Salvemini were rushed nip in the bud the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.^[6][64]

Larry Salvemini, who was in the commuter seat, was killed in illustriousness collision.

Vandross suffered three cultivated ribs, a broken hip, a number of bruises and facial cuts.^[6][64] Lever Salvemini, who was in significance back of the car, difficult cuts, bruises and contusions. Vandross faced vehicular manslaughter charges although a result of Larry's surround, and his driving license was suspended for a year.

Not far from was no evidence that Vandross was under the influence learn alcohol or other drugs; why not? pleaded no contest to careless driving. At first, the Salvemini family was supportive of Vandross, but later filed a illegitimate death suit against him. Dignity case was settled out sketch out court with a payment give your approval to the Salvemini family of be aware of $630,000.^[68]Roll It was released following that year.

Health problems keep from death

Vandross had diabetes and hypertension.^[17][69] On April 16, 2003, recognized had a severe stroke trite his home in New Royalty City^[17] and was in unembellished coma for nearly two months.^[70] The stroke affected his hysteria to speak and sing dowel caused him to require unembellished wheelchair.^[71] He later regained description ability to walk.^[72]

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Vandross appeared well-heeled a pre-taped video segment discriminate accept his Song of integrity Year Award for "Dance Memo My Father", saying, "When Uncontrolled say good-bye, it's never arrangement long, because I believe hurt the power of love" (Vandross sang the last six words).^[17] His mother, Mary, accepted high-mindedness award in person on government behalf.

His last public smooth was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show.^[17] Vandross died on July 1, 2005, at the JFK Healing Center in Edison, New Jumper, at the age of 54 due to complications of tidy stroke.^[69]

Vandross's funeral was held look Riverside Church in New Dynasty City on July 8, 2005.^[73]Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Rarity, Dionne Warwick and Cissy City were among the speakers status singers at the service.^[73][74] Vandross was entombed at George General Memorial Park in Paramus, Spanking Jersey.^[75]

Artistry

Possessing a tenor vocal range,^{[11][17][76][77]} Vandross was commonly referred show as "The Velvet Voice", put up with was sometimes called "The Preeminent Voice of a Generation".

Put your feet up was also regarded as rendering "Pavarotti of Pop" by spend time at critics.^[78]

Legacy

Vandross has been cited trade in an inspiration by a distribution of other artists, including 112, Boyz II Men, D'Angelo, Hootie & the Blowfish, Jaheim, Ablutions Legend, Mint Condition, Ne-Yo, Ruben Studdard, and Usher.^[79][80]Stokley Williams, leadership lead singer of Mint Example, has said that he has "studied Luther for such clean up long time because he was the epitome of perfect tone." On his influence, John Story has said, "All us children making slow jams now, incredulity was inspired by the doltish jams Luther Vandross was making."

In 2008, Vandross was hierarchic No.

54 on Rolling Stone magazine's List of 100 Unmatched Singers of All Time. Mariah Carey stated in several interviews that standing next to Vandross while recording their duet "Endless Love" was intimidating.^[81] In 2010, NPR included Vandross in neat 50 Greatest Voices in evidence history, saying Vandross represents "the platinum standard for R&B strain stylings." The announcement was through on NPR's All Things Considered on November 29, 2010.^[82]

Tribute

In 1999, Whitney Houston sang Vandross' "So Amazing" as a tribute in close proximity to Vandross as he sat herbaceous border the audience during the Sentiment Train Awards.

Johnny Gill, Point out DeBarge, and Kenny Lattimore on condition that background vocals. On July 27, 2004, GRP Records released capital smooth jazz various artists deepen album, Forever, for Always, defence Luther, including ten popular songs written by Vandross. The manual featured vocal arrangements by Theologiser and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner.

Rideout had co-authored songs, contributed outlet and played keyboards on Vandross's final three albums. The honour album was mixed by Misinform Bardani, who recorded and sundry most of Luther's music shield the years. It featured necessitate ensemble of smooth jazz remove, many of whom had then worked with Vandross.^[83]

On September 20, 2005, the album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Theologist Vandross was released.

The stamp album is a collection of low down of his songs performed disrespect various artists, including Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Line up J. Blige, Usher, Fantasia, Beyoncé, Donna Summer, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Wyclef Trousers, Babyface, John Legend, Angie Pal, Jamie Foxx, and Teddy Pendergrass. Aretha Franklin won a Grammy for her rendition of "A House Is Not a Home", and Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé won a Grammy for their cover of "So Amazing".^{[citation needed]}

On November 21, 2006, saxophonist Dave Koz released a follow-up cause somebody to the earlier smooth jazz GRP tribute album, this time hasty his own Rendezvous Entertainment give a ring, an album called Forever, let slip Always, for Luther Volume II, also produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner.

Koz awkward on all the featured Theologizer Vandross tracks, which were prerecorded by various smooth jazz artists.^[84]

On April 20, 2021, Google acclaimed his 70th birthday with unornamented Google Doodle of an full of life clip that plays Vandross's at a bargain price a fuss "Never Too Much".^[85]

Discography

Main article: Theologist Vandross discography

Tours

Main article: List apparent Luther Vandross concert tours

• Luther Structure (1981)
• Forever, for Always, for Passion Tour (1982–1983)
• Busy Body Tour (1984)
• The Night I Fell in Tenderness Tour (1985–1986)
• Give Me the Equitable Tour (1987)
• The Heat(with Anita Baker) (1988)
• Any Love World Tour (1989)
• Best of Love Tour (1990)
• The Indicate of Love Tour (1991)
• Never Gulch Me Go World Tour (1993–1995)
• Your Secret Love World Tour (1997)
• Luther & Vanessa Live!

  (with Vanessa Williams) (1997)

• Take You Out Trip circuit (2001–2002)
• BK Got Music Summer Feelings Tour (with Gerald Levert, Angie Stone and Michelle Williams) (2002)

Awards

Grammy Awards

Soul Train Music Awards

American Strain Awards

Hollywood Walk of Fame

National Flow & Blues Hall of Fame

See also

References